Declan Rice's double pushes Arsenal six points clear; Wolves win first game against fellow relegation battlers
Updated . First published at
Declan Rice proved why he's a leading candidate to be the Premier League's player of the season by inspiring Arsenal to a come-from behind victory against Bournemouth.
The star England midfielder scored two second-half goals — with almost identical low, side-footed finishes — in a dramatic 3-2 win after falling behind early.
Rice was a doubt for the match because of a knee injury that forced him out of the 4-1 win over Aston Villa, but was deemed fit to return and proved to be the difference.
READ MORE: Warner's record century in vain as Thunder woes continue
READ MORE: 'Superb' Ruud crushes de Minaur in United Cup surprise
READ MORE: Former North Melbourne player dead at 23
“We are going to need everyone chipping in at different points so happy to help the team,” he said post-game.
Declan Rice celebrates his second goal. Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Arsenal fell behind in the 10th minute when Evanilson stroked into an unguarded net after intercepting a woeful pass out from the back by Gabriel Magalhaes.
The centre back made amends by lashing in the equalizer six minutes later, following a mazy run by Noni Madueke, for a second goal in as many starts.
After Rice's double, a long-range strike by Bournemouth substitute Eli Junior Kroupi in the 76th minute made for a tense finale but Arsenal held on for a fifth-straight win.
The result keeps the Gunners six points clear at the top of the table, with Aston Villa and Manchester City at arm's length in the title race.
Villa remain the closest challenger to Arsenal after a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest.
City can return to second place, four points behind Arsenal, with a win over Chelsea.
Football's new home, Stan Sport, is the only place to watch the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, WSL, European World Cup qualifiers, J.League, NSWL and K League
In other fixtures, Wolverhampton won their first game of the Premier League season after stunning fellow relegation battlers West Ham 3-0.
No team has taken this long to record their first win in a Premier League since the competition’s inception in 1992.
Jhon Arias, Hwang Hee-chan and Mateus Mané scored first-half goals for the Wolves, who moved onto six points, still 12 from safety with 18 games remaining.
Wolves players celebrate a goal. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Wolves manager Rob Edwards said he was torn between feeling “a bit of relief and really pleased.”
“We should enjoy it," he said, "but it’s only one win. That’s all it is.”
Wolves remain only six points behind next-to-last Burnley, who lost at Brighton 2-0 and eight points off the third-to-last Hammers
West Ham coach Nuno Espirito Santo said his team's performance was “embarrassing” and the worst in his coaching career.
"I don’t recall one day that I felt so bad in a football pitch,” he said.
